Doctors save them with their brains. They employ years of medical training and administer modern medicine to treat diseases and improve patients' health. Jim Joachim, who practices internal medicine at Coastal Primary Care, has been doing that for years.

Police officers also save lives, protecting them through crime prevention and deterrence, but also through overwhelming force if necessary.

Dr. Joachim can do that, too.

Joachim was sworn in June 28 as an auxiliary officer with the Wilmington Police Department. The Wilmington physician will join the SWAT team upon completion of his advanced training.

Double Duty

Joachim said the idea for including a doctor on the SWAT team originated long before he started basic law enforcement training at Cape Fear Community College. SWAT team commander Sgt. Kevin Johnson and city attorney Bill Wallach had worked on the plan for years, he said.

In the past three years, the SWAT team has added four paramedics from the Wilmington Fire Department.

The reason is fairly obvious: Immediate medical treatment could be the difference between life and death for a SWAT team member or a civilian.

"If point of contact treatment is not rendered, chances of survival are dramatically reduced," Joachim said. "The first three minutes are critically important for survival and decreasing mortal wounds."

Massive hemorrhage, possibly from a gunshot or explosion, is one of the leading preventable causes of death in a tactical situation, Joachim said.

Johnson called the inclusion of medics "one of the best things I've been involved in." With the addition of Joachim, the team has even more medical expertise.

Master firefighter Scott Rivenbark, a SWAT team medic, said that most medics, while trained, have a more basic level of expertise than a doctor. He said Joachim can make more decisions than the medics.

Joachim said he makes the medics better, and in turn, they make him better.

Joachim also has one tool that the medics don't – a 9 mm firearm. That's because Joachim volunteered to complete the basic law enforcement training (BLET) program, a grueling eight-month program of classwork combined with physical training.

Training

Even though he is training specifically to be a SWAT team member, Joachim had to take comprehensive courses in all areas of police work. During those classes, he worked alongside other candidates, engaging in training such as fingerprinting, ABC laws, driver training and weapons.

Much of the work was class work, but Joachim, 55, also had to pass the physical abilities test. A varsity swimmer in college, he had kept himself in good shape throughout adulthood, but working with men half his age was still a challenge. Treating his aches and pains with "Advil and ace bandages," Joachim persevered, losing 25 pounds in the process. Under the training program of Capt. Barry Key, Joachim also did more pushups and sit-ups and bench pressed a heavier weight than he ever had before.

"He did everything the young people did and did extremely well," said former Wilmington Police Chief Ricky Simpson, who teaches the BLET class at CFCC.

Still practicing internal medicine at Coastal Primary Care during the day, Joachim did all of his training in the evenings and on weekends. The course included 624 hours of instruction. That left very little time to spend with his wife, Olga, or to do anything else.

"It took an amazingly strong and patient spouse who will continue to be incredibly patient and tolerant," Joachim said.

He mentions the word "continue" because his training is far from over. In September, Joachim will attend a five-day course in combat casualty care training in Washington. In December, he'll train in tactical medical preparedness at the N.C. Justice Academy in Salemburg.

Motivation

Joachim lost three friends during the 9/11 terror attacks, and that motivated him to pursue a position on the SWAT team.

"The opportunity to protect people as a physician is an honor. Keeping people healthy is extremely gratifying," Joachim said. "The privilege of becoming a law enforcement officer with Wilmington Police Department also is an honor."

Becoming a doctor and a police officer rank only behind marriage and the birth of his children as the "most momentous" events in Joachim's life.

During his training, Joachim received encouragement from Lawrence Heiskell, a physician and founder of the International School of Tactical Medicine in California. Joachim called Heiskell an "exceptional source of information."

Joachim repeatedly insisted that the Wilmington Police Department and his many instructors receive credit for the initiative and the effort they put into helping him accomplish his goal.

Simpson said he's glad there's a doctor on the SWAT team, but he hopes Joachim never gets to use his skills.